Deann Bucher, BVSD District E

Experience and Education:

• Fusion Academy Boulder County, 2022-2025 Instructor/Mentor
• Instructor, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2009, Nature of Social Studies
• 2007-2010 Boulder Valley School District Boulder, Curriculum Coordinator, Social Studies
• 1998-2007, 2010-2020 Monarch High School Louisville, Colorado Social Studies Teacher/Internet Specialist
• Broomfield High School 2010-2011, Angevine Middle School, 1992-1998
• 2007-2009 Leaders for Colorado Parker, Colorado School Leadership, Principals’ License
• 1999-2000 University of Colorado Denver, Colorado Master of Arts, Information and Learning Technologies
• 1982 – 1986 University of Denver Denver, Colorado BA-Music History
  
  

Q: Why are you running for School Board?

I retired in 2020, having met the required years of service in the state. I truly want to give back to the BVSD community that has given me so much in the 27 years I worked there. I take true pride in the efforts made to create an inclusive and equitable learning community. Since that time, I have been working at private schools, and in doing so have learned about the places that the school district is still underserving a variety of students. My efforts are truly to be of service to a community that I love. But also to continue on a journey to bring more equity in outcomes to all students, and to protect those students who are under constant scrutiny today.

Q: What do you consider your top policy-related priority to work on if you get elected, and why? 

I certainly would have answered this question differently 4 years ago as we were recovering from COVID, but today, I hope to work to protect the students, families and teachers from a culture war they seem to be at the center of. BVSD has always been a beacon of academic freedom, that embraced the truth of history, the broadness of the human experience and the intention to maintain rights for all students. We have a history of being leaders in this arena, and I would hope that we can maintain the integrity and the intention of providing a quality education to all students, and a rewarding and safe environment for our educators.

Q: The new federal administration clearly has different ideas about the federal role in education than the past administration. What federal actions or proposals concern you the most (or please you the most) when it comes to their likely impact on BVSD?

I am devastated by the changes that will limit access to high quality post-secondary experiences for our young people of color, or in first generation college attendees who are breaking out of poverty. The limitations on funding and loans from federal sources will bring a challenging environment and risks to mental health of our students. Setting high expectations for all will come with the burden of real consequences and a lack of equitable access. Additionally, I am truly scared for the mental health and physical health of our LGBTQia+ students who have been used as scapegoats in a culture war they were not expecting to influence their decisions so greatly.

Q: The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in society is expanding rapidly. When it comes to BVSD, what sort of top-level concerns or benefits do you see regarding AI?

I have a Master’s degree in Information and Learning Technology and have thought deeply about the impact of technology on students. The arguments and fears that we have about AI are very similar to the arguments we had about using Internet resources 20 years ago. Will students cheat? Yes. Will we be able to figure out how to teach our students using it? Absolutely, yes. We are figuring it out more and more every day. But blindly banning technology, and suddenly, is not a way to change the culture of schools. This technology will be a part of our world and our students’ experiences. We will need to be resilient enough to see the potential of using AI for good and in unexpected ways, and to learn how to protect our students from having their own data used by AI.

Q: With possible significant budget cutting on the table at both the State of Colorado and federal levels, do you foresee the need for additional BVSD sources of revenue? Do you think it might be necessary for BVSD to go to the voters in the near future?

In all of my years, and in all the communities I have worked in, parents and students demand top notch schools and realize the connection between a great school district and the value of the surrounding homes. However, in my community, since the Marshall Fire the values of homes has exploded! Since the taxes are based on assessed values, the tax burden has already gone up. Areas that are in special taxation districts can’t swallow a call for more taxes, but Bonds could be a way to cover the costs for longterm investments still needed in the infrastructure.

Q: It’s not impossible that there might be proposals to close certain BVSD schools during your term, or into the near-term future. What factors would be most important to you if you had to make a voting decision on closing a school? Do you believe BVSD has adequate guidelines in place now?

This is a problem we will need to address, and it is more complicated because our east county schools will not have the same problem, as communities continue to expand and add residents in Erie and Lafayette. I am a real fan of neighborhood schools and recognize their importance in uniting neighborhoods and giving a sense of belonging to students. The difficult decisions to cut/close a school come when the programs available to students begin to be reduced, making the school a less than optimal option. For example, not having enough students enrolled in SAAC, Great Books, or any number of supplemental programs could cease to be offered. Then the quality of the school may actually decline. We want our students to have excellent and equitable opportunities for success. So, the priority is to provide excellent schools. As a board we will need to evaluate when the tipping points come and sacrifices to community schools would need to be made.

Q: How do you keep in touch with the thoughts of students and parents now, and/or how do you plan to keep in touch if elected? 

I am involved in my community in many ways, and through my participation in those activities, I meet many parents. Some of the parents with small children are former students at MHS. I want to keep myself open to feedback at any level. I have the calm demeanor that is inviting for people to talk to, and I love listening to people’s concerns. I am still tied to the many teachers that I worked with across the district. Additionally, I still teach in a private setting where I am in contact with parents and students who have opted to leave the public school system. My antenna are always up, and I love looking for solutions to the issues people have.

Q: There will be 2 state ballot measures in 2025 (Props LL and MM) which would a) let the state’s Healthy School Meals for All Program keep “excess” revenue above the TABOR cap, and b) expand the program’s funding by limiting tax deductions for those who earn more than $300,000 a year. What are your positions on the ballot measures, and your reasoning for the positions – with an eye on what they mean for BVSD?

Having healthy food for all is a game changer in schools, and I believe our communities understand the educational benefits of this program. In fact, it could be this variable that allowed students last year to show such growth and raise their scores. I can tell you that before this program, myself and my peers regularly fed students who were lacking. I don’t think that teachers should be responsible for this. I have long felt that TABOR limits us from doing the right thing, or the innovative thing, so arranging for this program to continue into the future would be a success for all.

Online Presence:

• DeannBucher.com
• deannforbvsd@gmail.com